The book begins its journey with England's first tour of Australia in 1876 and the subsequent three series prior to the 1882 tour that led to a mock obituary being placed in the Sporting Times "In affectionate remembrance of English cricket, which died at The Oval on 29th August, 1882. The body will be cremated and the ashes taken to Australia." Celebrating the players who made their mark on the game and the controversies that shook the sport, the book covers every series since then through to the most recent series. In 2005 England won a highly competitive series that helped raise the popularity of the sport, and 2009 sees a much-anticipated series back on UK soil, with England looking to regain the Ashes after Australia's victory in the 2006-07 series. Beautifully produced, this book will be a welcome addition to all cricket enthusiasts' collections, as well as an ideal gift purchase.